Nuggets coach George Karl is a fan of the city of Denver – and is a capital-H Huge Steelers fan — so the way things are going, who knows, maybe his city and his team will meet in the NFL playoffs.

On Sunday, as soon as Matt Prater tied the Broncos-Bears game at the end of regulation, “I knew they were going to win,” Karl said of Denver. “The football gods.”

Indeed, the Broncos won in overtime, making quarterback Tim Tebow 7-1 as a starter this year.

“I’m just happy for the energy of the city – the city is pumped,” Karl said. “I’m kind of into coaches who take out-of-the-box chances. And it seems like they’re having fun with it, that they’re enjoying it. There’s a juice.”

As for Tebow, Karl said:

“I’ve always felt that leadership by words is overrated – leadership by example, approach and attitude is what people follow. And passion and enthusiasm is contagious. There’s an energy that comes with that. He’s a guy who believes in himself, has a spiritual belief.”

Asked what NBA players remind him of Tebow, Karl took a moment and then said: “With the will to win, Manu Ginobili is the type of guy, he has this exuberance of – we’re going to win the (darn) game with effort, passion and commitment. He’s the first guy that came to mind.

“A guy who wins it on his heart more than his skills – Ben Wallace. He was an undersized, defensive player who can’t score, but won a championship.”

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.